In 1988, five musical legends (and good friends) joined forces to create what remains the finest “supergroup” ever formed.
That band was the Traveling Wilburys, comprised of Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and George Harrison. Their self-titled debut album, the only one they recorded with the full lineup, outshines much of the solo work released by the individual members.
The album is a mix of countrified folk rock that manages to play to the strengths of each Wilbury without lapsing into a series of solo performances. They sound throughout the record like a true band, supporting and enhancing each other’s turn at center stage.
Shortly after the release of Traveling Wilburys, Roy Orbison died of a heart attack at just 52 years old. I was shocked to see how young he was when I looked it up for this blog entry. I figured he was in his 70s.
Orbison’s untimely passing adds a poignancy to his Wilbury contributions. His trademark soaring vocals on today’s SOTD, in particular, are heartbreaking when you realize they were some of the last notes he sang on record.
That I’d come running to you in the end
I thought that you were on your own
And now I find you’re not alone
I’ll see you through the rain
Through the heartache and pain
It hurts like never before
You’re not alone any more
You always said that I would know someday
Just how it feels when your love walks away
I let you down, I let you go
I lost you, how was I to know
I’ll see you through the rain
Through the heartache and pain
It hurts like never before
You’re not alone any more
I never knew I could feel this way
I never could see past yesterday
You feel that everything is gone
I feel it too, you’re not alone
I’ll see you through the rain
Every heartache and pain
It hurts like never before
You’re not alone, you’re not alone
You’re not alone any more, any more, any more
Meet Me In Montauk 
Okay, I’m certainly saddened by Orbison’s untimely death, but I must confess that his voice has always annoyed me. So it should come as no surprise that, as much as I love this album, this is really one of my least favorite songs. That is not to say that I don;’t like it, as it is generally saved for me by the backup vocals and wonderful production that were trademarks on this record.
Oh, I couldn’t disagree more with Dana! While I can’t call myself a Roy Orbison fan (I don’t own any of his solo albums), his are among the songs I love most on this album. Getting to enjoy his distinctive voice supported by other voices I know and love so much just makes the experience all the more enjoyable.
One of the things I most love about this “supergroup” is how distinct each member’s voice is. Tom Petty? Bob Dylan? These are singer songwriters, whose voices suit their songs. To have them contribute those “unique” (isn’t that the kind word typically used?) voices to such a collaboration seemed so unlikely at the time – and was just so perfect in execution.
You often wax poetic about “albums” on this blog, and this one is a standout for me. It’s the rare CD I’ll pull out in this age of digital music to listen to from start to finish. It’s just such a special collection of songs. It makes me happy every time I hear it.